Anti Bullying Stategy
Bullying can be defined as
- Persistent
- Offensive
- Abusive
- Intimidating
- Malicious
- Insulting
behaviour towards another person
Senior school
We would consider Hamilton College to be a safe and pleasant learning environment.
However there may be a low level of bully-like behaviour which even the best schools experience from time to time.
We have a policy that promotes an awareness of bullying and declares our intention to be an Anti-Bullying School.
In partnership with parents we aim to be both proactive and preventative in our approach and in particular:
- We have a policy of continually reminding pupils about the issue of bullying and its consequences.
- We are on the look out for any potential problems.
- We seek the cooperation of parents to inform us at an early stage.
- Within the curriculum the Lifeskills programme has a vigorous input in each year group and uses role play, videos and other media to inform and educate pupils.
- There are posters on display throughout the school.
- Assemblies highlight the issue.
Junior School
The Junior School’s Anti-Bullying strategies are to:
- Teach our pupils the difference between bullying and other types of indiscipline.
- Seek the cooperation of parents to inform us at an early stage.
- Encourage our pupils to stand by someone who is being treated unkindly rather than be bystanders.
- Instruct our pupils to report any incident of unkindness, which may or may not be bullying, to a teacher.
- Discuss bullying as part of the curriculum at appropriate stages.
- Supervise our playgrounds.
- Keep parents informed if their child is involved in any bullying incident either as a victim or perpetrator.
- Monitor all incidents of bullying to prevent recurrence.
Things to do
- If you are worried that your child is being bullied at school it is vital that you work with his or her teachers to find a solution.
- If you are still worried then you should speak to a Guidance teacher or a member of the School Management team.
- Encourage your child to tell a member of staff.
- Always discuss things with your child before you take action. If you don't do this you might damage your relationship with your child.
Things to avoid
- Don’t tell a child being bullied to "just ignore it". If that were possible, the child would not be asking you for help.
- Don’t tell a bullied child to hit back. Instead, you should discuss other ways in which they could stand up for themselves.